Nigeria’s Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba says a new team has been set up to take inventory of abandoned projects across the country.
The team, which is to be headed by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, was set up at Wednesday’s meeting of the Federal Executive Council presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
They also approved the creation of the National Capital Projects Information System
The Minister who briefed the media disclosed that the team involves the key infrastructure ministries in the country.
“What this project seeks to take care of is the increasing number of abandoned and uncompleted projects that we have all over the place which is turning out to be a major drain of funds and represents a waste to the nation’s budget and scarce resources,” Agba said.
According to Agba, the team will “Look at and prioritize, fund selected projects on a yearly basis for completion; look at the possibility of privatization of some of the projects or transfer ownership to either state of local government; how to repurpose the project for alternative use; or completely abandon of dismantle and treat those as sunk.”
FIRS Gets N14.88 Billion
Agba said that the cabinet meeting also approved contract for a new office for the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, with parking lot at 17B Awolowo Road in Lagos.
He said the contract was awarded to Messrs CCECC Nigeria Ltd at a total cost of N14.88billion, inclusive of 7.5% VAT with a completion period of 24 months.
“The construction of this building will save the Federal Inland Revenue Service of about N4billion yearly rent that they have been paying and it will also help the Lagos State government to reduce traffic congestion along Awolowo Road and the adjoining roads.”
Agba said that the building would be sited in the premises already owned by the FIRS and would not involve the purchase of land.
He said that the property measures 11857 Sq Meters.
Custom Estate
The Budget and Planning Minister said that Council also approved the award of contract for the purchase of property at Mombe Estate, which is on Plot 21 Cadastral Zone E 23, Abuja.
He said the contract sum was N14.41billion adding that the contract had to do with the provision of residential accommodation for officers of the Nigeria Custom Service, NCS.
“Provision of residential accommodation is a major incentive for officers and men towards improving their productivity and efficiency.
“Some of these officers are currently residing in hotels; some stay back in their offices and we think that is not too good enough.”
According to Agba, the NCS intends to buy an estate consisting of 274 housing units, which includes 128 units of three-bedroom flats; 96 units of two-bedroom flats and 50 units of three-bedroom terrace duplexes.
He further disclosed that a contract was also awarded for the construction of two 30-room hostels for male cadets and one 30-room hostel for female cadets’ hostel at the Customs Training School, Kano.
Agba said the approval was also given for the purchase of 703 laptop computers for training and CBT exams for Customs cadets.
PIAK
